Biodiversity and Planning

Powys County Council has a legal duty to consider biodiversity when making planning decisions. This applies to all types of development—from large housing schemes to small home improvements.

If your proposal could affect local wildlife or habitats, you'll need to show how you've considered biodiversity in your plans. This includes avoiding harm where possible, reducing any unavoidable impacts, and providing enhancements that benefit nature.

What Information Do I Need to Provide?

If your development might affect:

Protected sites (like SSSIs or SACs),
Priority habitats (such as hedgerows, trees or ponds), or
Protected species (like bats, otters, or nesting birds),

...you may need to submit ecological surveys or assessments with your planning application. These help our planning officers make informed and lawful decisions.

For smaller projects, such as householder applications, the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) offers helpful guidance:

Biodiversity and Planning info

Net Benefit for Biodiversity Green Infrastructure and Biodiversity Guidance on External Lighting

Net Benefit for Biodiversity

Wales' wildlife is in decline—one in six species is at risk of extinction. Everyday choices, including how we build and develop land, impact the natural world. That's why Powys County Council is committed to ensuring all planning applications deliver a Net Benefit for Biodiversity.

Green Infrastructure (GI) and Biodiversity: Guidance for Householders

Green Infrastructure (GI) is the network of natural and semi-natural features that connect places and support biodiversity.

Guidance on External Lighting

Artificial lighting can have serious impacts on bats and other nocturnal wildlife. Poorly designed lighting can disrupt bat foraging, commuting routes, and roosting behaviour. To protect biodiversity, lighting proposals must be carefully considered in all planning applications.